Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 The elective repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm
- 2 Adrenalectomy
- 3 Amputation (below knee)
- 4 Anorectal abscesses, fistulae and pilonidal sinus
- 5 Appendicectomy
- 6 Principles of bowel anastomosis
- 7 Breast surgery
- 8 Carotid endarterectomy
- 9 Carpal tunnel decompression
- 10 Central venous cannulation
- 11 Cholecystectomy (laparoscopic)
- 12 Circumcision
- 13 Colles' fracture (closed reduction of)
- 14 Compound fractures
- 15 Dupuytren's contracture release
- 16 Dynamic hip screw
- 17 Fasciotomy for compartment syndrome
- 18 Femoral embolectomy
- 19 Femoral hernia repair
- 20 Haemorrhoidectomy
- 21 Hip surgery
- 22 Hydrocele repair
- 23 The open repair of an inguinal hernia
- 24 Laparotomy and abdominal incisions
- 25 Oesophago-gastroduodenoscopy
- 26 Orchidectomy
- 27 Parotidectomy
- 28 Perforated peptic ulcer
- 29 Pyloric stenosis and Ramstedt's pyloromyotomy
- 30 Right hemicolectomy
- 31 Skin cover (the reconstructive ladder)
- 32 Spinal procedures
- 33 Splenectomy
- 34 Stomas
- 35 Submandibular gland excision
- 36 Tendon repairs
- 37 Thoracostomy (insertion of a chest drain)
- 38 Thoracotomy
- 39 Thyroidectomy
- 40 Tracheostomy
- 41 Urinary retention and related surgical procedures
- 42 Varicose vein surgery
- 43 Vasectomy
- 44 Zadik's procedure
37 - Thoracostomy (insertion of a chest drain)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 October 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 The elective repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm
- 2 Adrenalectomy
- 3 Amputation (below knee)
- 4 Anorectal abscesses, fistulae and pilonidal sinus
- 5 Appendicectomy
- 6 Principles of bowel anastomosis
- 7 Breast surgery
- 8 Carotid endarterectomy
- 9 Carpal tunnel decompression
- 10 Central venous cannulation
- 11 Cholecystectomy (laparoscopic)
- 12 Circumcision
- 13 Colles' fracture (closed reduction of)
- 14 Compound fractures
- 15 Dupuytren's contracture release
- 16 Dynamic hip screw
- 17 Fasciotomy for compartment syndrome
- 18 Femoral embolectomy
- 19 Femoral hernia repair
- 20 Haemorrhoidectomy
- 21 Hip surgery
- 22 Hydrocele repair
- 23 The open repair of an inguinal hernia
- 24 Laparotomy and abdominal incisions
- 25 Oesophago-gastroduodenoscopy
- 26 Orchidectomy
- 27 Parotidectomy
- 28 Perforated peptic ulcer
- 29 Pyloric stenosis and Ramstedt's pyloromyotomy
- 30 Right hemicolectomy
- 31 Skin cover (the reconstructive ladder)
- 32 Spinal procedures
- 33 Splenectomy
- 34 Stomas
- 35 Submandibular gland excision
- 36 Tendon repairs
- 37 Thoracostomy (insertion of a chest drain)
- 38 Thoracotomy
- 39 Thyroidectomy
- 40 Tracheostomy
- 41 Urinary retention and related surgical procedures
- 42 Varicose vein surgery
- 43 Vasectomy
- 44 Zadik's procedure
Summary
What are the indications for insertion of a chest drain?
The main purpose of a chest drain is to remove or prevent the collection of pleural contents that result in ventilatory compromise. Some of the indications are listed below:
Pneumothorax
Haemothorax
Pleural effusion (infective, malignant, congestive)
Empyema
Chest trauma (especially those with open or penetrating chest wounds)
Chylothorax
Post-operative (prophylactic)
Prior to positive pressure ventilation
What surface makings help in deciding the site of chest drain insertion?
The safe site for a chest drain is within an imaginary triangle on the side of the chest wall, and, on the superior border of the rib that forms the inferior border of the chosen intercostal space.
The three sides of this triangle are marked anteriorly by the lateral border of the pectoralis major muscle, posteriorly by the anterior axillary line and inferiorly by the sixth rib.
What are the anatomical reasons for the site chosen in Question 2?
Intercostal neurovascular bundles are at the inferior border of the rib and away from the site of tube insertion.
The long thoracic nerve is marked by the midaxillary line and thus outside the above triangle.
Describe how you would insert an intercostal chest drain
Position The patient is placed supine at a 45-degree angle and tilted away from the side of the procedure. The shoulder is then abducted (resting hands on top of head) to allow better access to the chest wall.
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- Information
- Operative Surgery Vivas for the MRCS , pp. 137 - 140Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2006